Make over your dining room with these easy tips, clever ideas, and fabulous design inspirations.

Before: Replacements Needed

Before: Replacements Needed

Lisa and Mark Hellman, in a yearlong, top-to-bottom-renovation, restored their 106-year-old home to its former glory, creating a pastoral family retreat in upstate New York. This photo, of their dining room before the renovation, shows just how much work this project required.

After: Southwest Chic

After: Southwest Chic

Though they had to replace the beyond-repair tin ceiling with a plaster version, the homeowners added interest to the room by installing beadboard along its lower walls. The antique table, chairs, and rug are family heirlooms, and the wrought-iron chandelier is custom-made.